Printing-press.



I. W. McNEIL.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION mm FEB. 4. 1915.

1 ,285,759. Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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' ATTORNEY.

I. W. McNEIL.

PRlNIlNG PRESS.

APPUCATLQN FILED FEB. 4, 1915.

Patented N 0v. 26, 1918.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1915.

1 ,285,759. Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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ATTORNEK JAMES W. McNEIL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

PRINTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application filed February 4, 1915. Serial No. 5,991.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES W. MoNnIL, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing- Presses, of which the following is a speci cation.

The objects of the invention are to provide a printing press in which a flat stationary form is employed over which paper carrying cylinders roll or travel; to support the form upon a member around which the paper carrying cylinders can continuously revolve or travel; to provide suitable mechanism for revolving said paper carrying cylinders around the form supporting member; to enable the inking rolls tobe also carried by said revolving means; to secure speed in a flat form press without great strain; to guide the cylinders across the form with an even pressure; to provide means for releasing said pressure, and means for removing the cylinders from contact with the form whereby the printing does not take place; to positively rotate said cylinders independent of their contact with the form; to provide a drive for positively rotating the ink rolls; to support the ink rolls as they pass over the form to relieve the pressure thereon; to provide such supporting means which are adjustable and adapted to compensate for the shrinkage and wear of the rolls; to provide an extensive inking surface for the ink rolls; to provide a rotary member for applying fresh ink to said ink rolls; to provlde improved means for operatlng the paper gripping means; to secure simplicity of construction and operation, and to obtaln other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several news,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken just inside of the frame as upon line A-A of Fig. 6:

Fig. 3 is a similar section, taken through the center of the press, as upon line BB of F igf 6;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the driving means for the supplying roll of the ink fountain;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on line CC of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view as on line D-D of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the operating means for the paper gripping mechanism, and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the rotating disk, showing the adjustable supporting means for the ink rolls.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings, the reference numerals 1, 1 indicate parallel spaced side pieces or frames joined by suitabletie bars Extendin between said side pieces is a stationary shaft 3 having keys 4: or other suitable means for preventing its rotation with respect to said side pieces, and mounts ed intermediate of the side pieces upon said shaft is a bed or form-supportin member 5 secured non-rotatably upon the shaft, as bykeys 6. so as to be stationary. At one side of the formsupportin g member, the same provides a flat surface recessed as at 7 for supporting the form, and, preferably, from said flat surface a continuous surface 8 substantially cylindrical, extends around said member, from one end to the other of the flat surface. A chase 9 may be secured within the recess 7 to support the form 10 therein, and ink rolls 11, 11 are provided which will rotate across the form and around the substantially cylindrical surface 8 to recross the form always in the same direction. Said surface 8 is utilized for the inking surface for said rolls, and the rolls will therefore be freshly inked each time before passing over the form. Following the ink' rolls around the form member is a paper carrying cylinder 12. suitably held out of contact with the inking surface 8, adapted to support and carry a sheet of paper across the form to obtain an imprint therefrom upon the paper. Obviously as many of these paper carrying cylinders may be employed as desired, and for purposes of illustration I have showntwo situated diametrically upon op of each of the paper carrying cylinders. As shown, there are two rolls in each set, and two sets diametrically opposite each other and arranged half way between the cylinders 12.

In order to support and revolve the paper carrying cylinders and ink rolls around the form-supporting member 5, disks l3, 13 are provided at both. ends of said member, adapted to rotate upon the shaft and upon the outer sides of these disks l3, l3 and connect ed thereto are gear wheels 1%, 1 1 also loose on said shaft and meshing with idler gear wheels 15, 15 which in turn mesh with driving gears l6, 18 upon a driving shaft 1?, which extends between the aid side pieces 1.

end of this shaft is show;

* through the train of gearing above 'ie bed or form-supporting member cylinder, but flattened at one Since n is a true side to receive the form, which is also 3' that as the ink rolls and paper cy 'ncers revolve around the form supporting member, they be permitted to move radially of said member toward and away from "the shaft 3 as they advance across said form. Referring first to the construction illustrated for permitting this re.- dial movement for the ink rolls, it may be noted that any suitable and well-known means may be employed. For purposes of illustration carriers 20 are provided each comprising a rod '21. slidable longitudinally' and eXtending substantially radially of the disk, said rod having a hook or other means 22 at its outer end for releasably engaging the ink roll. The rod is resiliently drawn inward by a suitable spring 23 and given sufficient range of movement longitudinally to allow the rollto not only pass around the inking surface 8 but to engage the form when passing thereover.

For permitting the necessary radial movement of the paper carrying cylinders with respect to the form member, each of the disks 13 is slotted for each of the cylinders radially of itself, as at 2%, and provides at carryin the longitudinal or radial edges of each slot ways or guides slidably carrying a floatingjournal 25 for the paper carrying cylinder. Between the inner ends of the slots 24 and the journal boxes are springs 26 tending to slide the paper carrying cylinders to their outer positions. Means are provided for actuating the paper carrying cylinders and their journals inwardly of the disks 13 and maintain the cylinders in proper o erative relation to the form. The means shown comprises onnosite compression rails 27, :27 attached to the side pieces or frames 1, 1 in planes perpendicular to the cylinders and at their ends. Rollers 28 on the cylinders engage and are guided by said compression rails. as they pass thereunder, and said rails are positioned and arranged to thus guide the cylinders across the form. l urthermore, the portions of the rails engaged by the rollers while the cylinder is passing over the form, are parallel to the plane of theform so that an even pressure is exerted at all parts of the form. It may here be noted that the cylinder will engage the form upon only line or very narrow strip longitudinally of itself at any one moment while rolled thereover, so that maximum piint r i essure is secured with minimum pressure against the rails on the frame.

it is orten desirable to allow a paper carrying cylin to pass over the form but suthciently rear 0 'c l therefrom to not receive an impression, and to effect this I support the compression rails each at their opposite ends upon similar eccentrics 2i) rotation of which will move the said rails toward and away from the bed. Said eccentrics are mounted non-rotatablv upon roclr shafts 30 carried in brackets 31 extending from the site pieces or frames, and the rails are prevented from displacement off the eccentrics by engagement with the ends of said brackets on one side and by a cap or head 32 upon the other side larger than the eccentric and fast with respect thereto. The outer ends of the rock shafts carry levers 33 for rocking said shafts, and for so rocking them simultaneously a link 3% extends between each pair of levers for each rail, and a ti'eadle rod 35 connects one of the levers of one rail to a crank 36 on the end of a trcadle shaft 37 eX- tending between the side pieces or frames. On the opposite end of this treadle shaft is secured a trcadle 38 to which is directly connected a treadle rod 39 from one of the eccentric opcrating levers on that side of the press. By depressing the ti'eadle, all of the eccentrics are turned at once and thus raise the compression rails. Preferably the rotation of the eccentrics is limited as by stops l0 0n the levers engaging suitable pins 41 on the frame, and furthermore a suitable spring 42 is provided to hold the treadlc normally raised and the compression rails in lowered position.

A positive drive is preferably provided to rotate the cylinders as they pass over the form, indc 'icndcut of contact of said cylinders with the form, and to this end I provide at the opposite ends of the cylinders between the same and the driving disks l3. 13 a pair of similar gear wheels 43 fast with respect to said cylinders. Preferably .the diameters of the pitch circles of tho gear wheels are thc same as the diameter of the rolling surface of the cylinder. .it opposite ends of the bod o1 form-soppm-ting member are racks ll. H following the contour of rolls.

said member and in mesh with the above described gear wheels 43 of the cylinder. Obviously, as the cylinders are caused to revolve around the form supporting member they rotate upon their own axes, and with the pitch lines of the racks in the plane of the form, each cylinder rolls without slipping with respect to said form. Furthermore, it is preferable for the racks to be continuous around the form-supporting member and the parts properly proportioned so that the same portions of the cylinder surface engage the form each time it crosses the same.

it is preferable to relieve the racks and gear wheels of any pressure so as to allow the same to operate accurately and with the least possible wear and noise. For this purpose tracks 45 are provided one at each end of the form-supporting member 5 conforming in configuration to the contour of said member and positioned between the end of the member 5 and the adjacent rack 44. The cylinder has a roller 46 overlying each of these tracks, positioned upon its supporting axle between the gear wheel and the end of the cylinder. This roller has been shown for purposes of illustration as a distinct member from the rollers 28 for engagement with the compression rails. The construction shown, however, is such as to allow an idle roll 7 6 to be rotatably secured to the disks at the inner end of radial movement of the cylinder against which the compression roller 28 will engage at its inner position while the cylinder is crossing the form.

The ink rolls preferably are provided.

at their opposite ends with pinions 47 in mesh with the racks 4-1 on the form-supporting member so as to positively rotate the ink rolls.

Preferably adjustable idle rollers 48 are carried by the disks 13 for limiting inward movement of the ink rolls so as to assist in obtaining an even distribution of the ink as the rolls pass over the form. The con struction shown comprises abar 49 arranged transverse to the several rods of the roll carriers and carrying the idle rollers 48, one for each ink roll. Said bar is secured to the outer side of the disks by screws 50, which pass through lateral slots 51 in the bar whereby said bar may be moved laterally of itself toward and away from the ink Bolts 52 in the plane of the bars on the opposite sides thereof from the ink rollers are supported in suitable lugs 53 on the disks and are adapted to engage the bar to prevent displacement thereof radially inward of the disks. Suitable rollers 77 on the ends of the ink rolls will engage and ride upon the idler rollers l8 as the ink rolls pass over the form.

It may be here noted that the ink rolls are allowed to revolve around the formsupporting member in contact therewith so as to properly work the ink and be themselves properly coated with ink, but by virtue of the track 45, the cylinders are revolved around the form-supporting member without engaging the inked surface.

In order to supply fresh ink to the inking surface, a suitable ink fountain 5% is provided, the same being here shown as positioned upon the lower tie bar 2 at the front of the press. The usual supply roll 55 extends longitudinally of this fountain 54, in direct contact with the ink. Ductor rolls 56am provided to transfer the ink from the supply roll 55 to the inking rolls 11, and preferably a continuous rotary mot-ion is given said ductor rolls instead of a reciprocating or oscillating motion. To this end an axle 57 is rotatably mounted at the front of the frames above the ink fountain and has secured fast upon itself a pair of transverse plates 58 between which at their outer ends are mounted the ductor rolls in floating bearings held by springs 59 normally at their radially outward position. It will be understood that as the ductor rolls are rotated, they alternately engage the supplying roll and then the passing ink rolls 11 between the disks 13. At the ends of the axle 57 are mounted gear wheels 60 driven from the gears 1t upon the shaft 3, a pair of pinions 61 being shown interposed between said gear wheels 60 and 14, although it is within the scope of the invention to interpose only one pinion if so desired, or in fact any number. Preferably there are a pair of ductor rolls upon diametrically opposite sides of the axle so as to balance the same and obtain a steady rotary movement, and since there are two sets of inking rolls rotating about the bed, I have shown the ductor axle geared to revolve once for each revolution of the ink roll supporting disks, but I no not restrict myself to this proportion of speeds inasmuch as the number of set; of ductor rolls may be varied, and more or less inking rolls may be used as desired.

Fresh ink is supplied to the exposed portion of the supply roll by revolving the same, and to this end a ratchet wheel 63 is fixed on the supply roll shaft, and a pawl 64 upon alever (55 pivoted as at 66 is adapted to rotate the roll slowly by a step by step movement. This lever is preferably adjustable in length for varying the stroke of the pawl and is pivotally attached at its end to an eccentric 67 upon the ductor axle LI. supply roll will be presented fresh to each engagement of the ductor rolls therewith so that fresh ink is supplied to the inking rolls. As the ink is thus supplied very shortly after the inking rolls have left the form. the ink becomes well worked before the same is applied to the form. In this Obviously the inked surface of themanner a very even distribution of ink is efiected whereby a sharp and clear imprint may be obtained as the paper on the cylinder is passed thereover.

Suitable means are provided for gripping the paper at the proper time to hold it upon the cylinder while passing over the form to receive an imprint therefrom. One such means shown in Fig i" more esi iecially coinprises a plate 68 pivoted longitudinally in a recess 69 in the cylinder and adapted to grip the paper between itself and the cylinder; This plate is secured to a lon itudinal rod which projects at the ends or the cylinder through the supporting rollers 46 and is siliently rotated as by a spring '51 so as to normally press the plate against the cylinder and grip the paper. This spring is shown fined one end to a drain 72 upon the rod 70 and secured at its other end to the roller all, However, "he resilient pressure may be eil'ected in other ways than by this particw lar arrangement. For swinging the plate away from the cylinder to allow a sheet of paper to be introduced therebetween or re leased therefrom the proper time, trip lever '32 is pivoted to the roller l8 and con-- nected at one end by a flexible member such as a chain i i to the periphery of the drum so that swinging the lever rotates the drum. The other end of the lever lies adjacent the track upon. which the roller l6 is riding" may be swung by e gagement with an nitable protuberance on said track cinch protuberances are preferably placed one to open the gripping device to receive the paper previous to passing over the for-in and one n the groping devic to low the to e atter over the or its forrnsup ortin rnernber.

Any other snitaole i may be employed howsvarious other do is of be changed or modified from the spirit and scope of the 1- which is to apply the principle of press to a fiat-form press. thereior not wish to he understood as limiting roj/"sel by any ot the positive description herein i ployed for purposes of illustration, e as required by the following claims when construed in the light of prior art.

It will be understood that the term. paper carrying cylinder is used herein to nate any ineinh whatever capable of being used for supporting or carrying the aper while itreoeives an impression from the form or chase mounted upon the form-supporting means whether in the shape of a cylinder or otherwise. The term is not to be limited to the particular means which l have shown and described for purposes of pa er grippin s and ionsly inven illustration but is to be understood as covering any means known to the art Having thus described the invention, what I claim is.

l. in a printing press, a stationary form supporting member having a form supporting portion tracks at opposite sides of said. member, racks at opposite sides of said menr her, said tracks being between the racks and said member and both said racks and tracks coniorn'ling in contig' ration to the contourot' said nieinben compression rails at opposite sides of the form supporting me er located in planes beyond the ct gets 0:? ii member and farther therefrom than racks and ed an even distance above the form sapportion of said nieinb l n th of said portion a p upon said c engage uncle rm. and gears betwee with as they res etc and in for rotating the cylind are revolved around the term s member.

poet tl e a stationary for-in inerooer having a n suppo iorni support ing poi-ti 11. tracks at opposite sides of said menu 2 3 racks at opposite sides 0 said zne i: her, said tracks being between th racks and i .ieinber and both said racks tracks miing in configuration. to the contour l member; compression rails oppo- "ElEG'fOTlIl supporting member anes beyond the edges said farther therefrom th n the A len th of said portion, a paper 5 cylinder. rollers at each end or? 1" fast with respect th 0 an- .l er each end of the cylinder loose ct thereto said loose rollers being farther apart than said rollst rollers riding upon said tracks i oose rollers arranged and to engage under the adjacent coniails and hold the cylinder in en- 'ith the form while passing over anti gears between the fast and ers at the opposite ends of c vlin wth the racks and lEZlF/l with re- 1e cylinder for rotating the same revolved arouno the form snpin printing press. a stationar form supporting: member having a form supporting portion. a paper -supporting cylinder ada ted to revolve around said member and having a radial movement with respect thereto. springs tending to hold the cylinder normally outward away from said form will) adapted to counteract the outward push of the springs and cause the cylinder to engage the form.

4. In a printing press, a stationary form supporting member having a form supporting portion, a paper supporting cylinder adapted to revolve around said member and having a radial movement with respect thereto, springs tending to hold the cylinder normally outward away from said form supporting member, rollers on said cylinder, 'and compression rails in the planes of said rollers adapted to overlie said rollers as the cylinder crosses the formsupporting portion and counteract the outward push of the spring and cause the cylinder to engage the form.

5. In a printing press, a stationary form supporting member having a form support ing portion, a paper supporting cylinder adapted to revolve around said member and having a radial movement with respect thereto, springs tending to hold the cylinder normally outward away from said form supporting member, compression rails at the form supporting portion of said member adapted to counteract the outward push of the springs as the cylinder crosses the form supporting ortion and cause the cylinder to engage the rorm, and means for limiting outward move ment of the cylinder from the form supporting member during the period when the same is not operated upon by the compression rail.

6. In a printing press, a stationary form supporting member havinga form supporting portion, a paper supporting cylinder adapted to revolve around said member and having a radial movement with respect thereto, a spring tending to hold the cylinder normally outward away from said form supporting member, rollers on said cylinder, compression rails in the planes of said rollers adapted to overlie said rollersasthe cylinder crosses the ,form supporting portion and counteract the outward push of the spring and cause the cylinder to engage the orm, and means for limiting outward movement of the cylinders from the form supporting member during the period when the same is not operated upon by the compression rail.

7. in a printing press, a pair of separated rotatable disks, a stationary form between said disks, a cylinder carried at its opposite ends by said disks and movable radially thereof, springs tending to hold the cylinder normally radially outward with respect to said disks away from said form supporting member, compression rails between the disks and the form supporting member, and rollers on said cylinder adapted to engage under the compression rails and thereby cause the cylinder to pass across the form in predetermined relation thereto.

8. In a printing press, a pair of separated rotatable disks each having a radial slot adjacent its periphery, a stationary form between said disks, slidable bearings mounted in said slots, a cylinder carried at its opposite ends in said bearings and adapted thereby to be rotated and to be moved radially toward and away from the form supporting member, springs tending to hold the cylinder normally radially outward with respect to said disks away from said form supporting member, compression rails between the disks and the form supporting member, and rollers on said cylinder adapted to engage under the compression rails and thereby cause the cylinder to pass across the form in predetermined relation thereto.

9. in a printing press, a pair or separated rotatable disks each having a radial slot adjacent its periphery, a stationary form between said disks, slidable bearings mounted in said slots, a cylinder carried at its opposide ends in said bearings and adapted thereby to be rotated and to be moved radially toward and away from the form supporting member, springs mounted within said slots compressed between the inner ends of the slots and the bearings tending to hold the cylinder normally radially outward with respect to said disks away from said form supporting member, compression rails between the disks and the form supporting member, and rollers on said cylinder adapted to engage under the compression rails and thereby cause the cylinder to pass across the form predetermined relation thereto.

10. In a printing press, a pair or separated rotatable disks each having a radial slot extending to its peripherv, a stationary form between said disks, slidable bearings mounted in said slots, a cylinder carried at its opposite ends in said bearings and adapted thereby to be rotated and to be moved radially toward and away from the form supporting member, springs tending to hold the cylinder normally radially outward with respect to saiddisks away from said form supporting member, means limiting outward movement oi the cylinder, and compression rails adapted to engage the cylinder when at its outward position and move it radially inward to pass the same across the form supporting portion of the member in engagement with the form.

11. In a printing press, a stationary form supporting member h ving a form supporting portion, a paper carrying cylinder tending normally to move away from the form supportingmember and adapted to revolve around said member, a movable compression rail for guiding the cylinder across the form either in or out of contact therewith as desired, and means for rigidly supporting the compression rail in either position.

12. In a printing press, a stationary form lid supporting member having a form snpporting portion, a paper carrying cylinder tending normally to move away from the form supporting member and adapted to revolve around said member, a movable compression rail for guiding the cylinder across the form either in or out of contact therewith as desired. and an eccentric tor rigidly supporting the compression rail either toward the form supporting portion or away from the same as desired.

13. In a printing press, a stationary form supporting member having; a form supporing portion, a paper cart ing cylinder tending normall to move from the form supporting member and adapted to revolve aroufid said member, movable compression rails for guiding the cylindei across the form either in or out of contact therewith as desired, and eccentrics at; opnosite ends of the compression rails for rio lly supporting the same eitl or toward -norm supporting portion or away item the some desired.

14. In a printing pr scationary form supporting member hai'i form support"- ing portion. a paper CElTflFlfl inder tend ing normally o move the form supporting H l revolve aroundsaid .1: .1 compression rails for gain form either in or desired, eccen compression rai either portion or portion or away means for turnin sail racks adapted rotate the cylinder as the oil nder revolved about the form supf member. an inlr roll adapted to revolve around said member, and gear Wheels on said ink roll in mesh with the racks adapted to rotate the ink roll as the same is revolved about the form supporting member.

17. In a printing press, a flame, a stationary form supporting member thereon, a paper carrying cylinder adapted to revolve around said form supporting member, said cylinder having a roller at each end of itself fixed with respect to itself, a gripping plate pivoted to said rollers and-overlying the cylinder, a drum fast with respect to said plate, resilient means tending normally to swing said plate in one direction, a trip lever, and flexible means connecting the trip lever and drum for swinging the plate out of normal position against the action of said resilient means.

18. In a printing press, a frame, a stationary form supporting member thereon, a paper carrying cylinder adapted to revolve around said form supporting member, said cylinder having a roller at each end of itself fixed with respect to itself, a gripping plate pivoted to said rollers and overlying the cylinder, a drum fast with respect to said plate, a trip lever, a spring; adapted to wind aronnd said drum in one direction, and. flexihie means connected to the trip lever and adapted to wind around the drum in the opdirection from. the spring whereby rotation of the drum under action of the will wind the flexible ineniher and ation of the drum tinder action of the tionary form supporti pa r casrying cylin around said iorni suonortin o inder having a'roll. lined with respect to for each said rollers, means "ing said cylinder around the form sunpoi'tine; meniheix a gripping-plate pivoted said rollers ad overl the cylinder, a drum fast with ct to plate at one; end of the cyl- Wr, trip lever pivoted to one roller at the same end. with said drum, a protuberance on the track adapted to engage and swing the trip lever at a predetermined position of the cylinder, resilient means tending normally to swing said plate in one direction,

* revolve lit and flexible means connecting; the. trip lever and drum for swinging the plate out of normal position against the actioi. of said spring in the other direction.

' JAMES I /ICNE'JL. Witnesses:

HOWARD P. inc, h ininnnn E. Beacons. 

